On September 26, 2024, the Jones-Payton co-op Boys Golf team competed in the Chicago Public League City Championships against Lane Tech, placing second.
This is Boys Golf coach David Gilmer’s tenth year coaching, with the team having a multitude of success during his tenure.
“Overall the season was really successful,” said Gilmer. “I’ve been coaching for 10 years. We’ve won five championships in the last 10 years, and we’ve gotten second five times.”
Both the Jones-Payton co-op team and Lane Tech competed fiercely, as both teams shot a score of less than 320, which is an impressive feat.
“We played against a really tough Lane Tech team,” said Gilmer. “They shot the lowest score that I’ve seen at City Championships since I’ve been coaching. They had a 301, we had a 316 which was about our average score.”
Both students from Jones and Payton prevailed during the game, with standout performances from Jones student Mason Fernandez ‘26 and Payton student Henry O’Toole ‘26.
“We were led by Mason Fernandez, who’s a junior here at Jones, and Henry O’Toole, who’s a junior at Payton,” said Gilmer. “They both shot 76s and were all conference players.”
The Boys Golf team had a successful 5-1 record throughout conference play this season, with their only loss coming to Lane Tech.
“The season was pretty good,” said Fernandez. “We had a few ups and downs, but overall, it was a good season for the team.”
The team has many new players compared to last year, which has had both positive and negative effects.
“This year, we lost a few seniors,” said team member Jack Condne ‘26. “We have some new faces this year, some new guys moving up. Last year we had five veterans in our starting six. So it was tough having rookies, I guess.”
Outside of conference play against other Chicago high schools, the Boys Golf team saw success at tournaments and events.
“We took third place at a really tough invitational, the St Rita Southside Shootout with a 314 at the Glenwoodie Golf Course,” said Gilmer. “We also, for the first time ever, did a 36 hole event in Peoria. The first day, we did not have our best round. I think we shot like a 340. But the second day, we came out with a 312 or 314. So I was really impressed with the boys ability to refocus and rebound after a tough first day.”
Despite a second place finish, Coach Gilmer believes this team is one of the strongest he’s coached during his tenure.
“Interestingly enough, even though we got second this year, I think this is one of the better teams I’ve had over the last 10 years,” said Gilmer. “In my time coaching, this is only the third time that a sub 320 score didn’t win cities. So that speaks to Lane Tech’s strength and also just speaks to our strength. Last year we were a really senior heavy team, and so to see a team that only has two seniors and the rest are all younger, speaks to the strength we’ll have next year.”
Now with City Championships behind them, the Boys Golf team prepares for the next step in their postseason.
“We’re going to regionals soon, and hoping to advance as a team to sectionals,” said Gilmer. “Mason Fernandez and Henry O’Toole are both players that really should be in the running for state this year, and can only improve between this year and the next.”
Along with helping the team accomplish their goals, Fernandez is working hard to qualify for state.
“We’re playing two practice rounds this weekend, and then just hit the driving range between now and then, just practice as much as I can,” said Fernandez. “I think I have a pretty good chance. We’ll see what the rest of the field shoots.”
The Boys Golf team competed hard throughout the season and are looking onward to the future with big goals in mind.
“What I’ve always appreciated about this team is they come to practice every day and work hard and really set our team matto to get better every day,” said Gilmer. “I think sometimes that effort and that pressure can make it sort of a drag to be out there, but they seem to always enjoy playing and get along and push each other to be the best they can be.”
